Tennessee Orthopaedic Society leaders joined colleagues from across the country in Washington, D.C., for the 2026 AAOS National Orthopaedic Leadership Conference, discussing several federal issues with significant implications for orthopaedic surgeons and their patients. TOS members met with Tennessee Congressional members of both House and Senate to express our concerns over these issues.
Key topics included CMS-proposed reductions of nearly 20% to Medicare work values for major joint replacement procedures; continued efforts to reform Medicare Advantage prior authorization through the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act; and the newly introduced Protecting Approved Care Act, which would provide greater protection against retroactive denials, downcoding and payment clawbacks after care has been approved.
We also discussed the importance of continued federal investment in the Peer Reviewed Orthopaedic Research Program (PRORP), which supports research aimed at improving the treatment and rehabilitation of service members, veterans and others with serious musculoskeletal injuries.
TOS will continue to keep Tennessee orthopeadic surgeons informed as these federal policy issues develop.
Image: Left to right: Matthew Smith MD Resident, Campbell Clinic; Tyler Brolin, MD, TOS Board Member; Matthew Wideman, MD, Campbell Clinic Resident; Phil Karpos, MD, TOS Board Member; Earl Anderson, TOS Executive Director